Which is responsible fot the high thermal energy required to melt ice?

A. covalent bonds

B. dispersion forces

C. hydrogen bonding

D. ionic attractions

Answer : The correct answer is C) Hydrogen bonds.

Melting of ice means conversion of solid phase of ice to liquid phase, water. When ice start to melt, the heat supplied to ice is used over the force of attraction between the ice molecules (H₂O). Stronger the force of attraction, more the energy will be required to overcome these forces.

Ice has inter molecular force of attraction as Hydrogen bonds, which can be defined as partially electrostatic attraction present between Hydrogen which is covalently bonded to more electronegative atom (which has lone pairs like Oxygen, nitrogen, fluorine) and atom which has lone pair of electrons of other molecule.

Since H₂O molecules have two Hydrogen atoms and one atom Oxygen present in it. Due to present of Oxygen, which is an electronegative atom and have lone pair of electrons, pulls the electron of hydrogen. There occur partial negative charge on O and partial positive charge on H. Due to presence of partial + and - charge, there occur force of attraction between H of one molecule and O of other H2O molecules, which is known as Hydrogen Bonding.

So options C) Hydrogen bonds are correct.

I believe is C: Hydrogen Bonding